American Revolutionary War Naval Figure. He was the most successful and audacious of the dread Salem Privateers, privately owned vessels commissioned by the infant American government to attack and capture British shipping. At the outbreak of hostilities, Haraden was a merchant captain. He joined the Massachusetts Navy that consisted of two ships, and served as an officer on the "Tyrannicide" when it captured a larger British vessel. Haraden later commanded the "Tyrannicide", but resigned to pursue a career as a privateersman, which was a very perilous but lucrative career. He took command of the 14-gun "General Pickering" in 1780, with a crew of 45 men and boys and sailed for Bilbao, Spain. Entering the Bay of Biscay, he spotted the British privateer, "Golden Eagle", which was larger than his own ship. Haraden snuck alongside the vessel after nightfall and declared himself a frigate. He demanded the enemy captain surrender. The startled British captain struck his colors. Before the "Pickering" and its prize were safely in harbor, Haraden spied the British privateer "Achilles" with forty guns and more than three times his crew, yet he fought the larger vessel until the enemy fled. He was treated like a hero in the Spanish port and carried through the streets in procession by its citizens, who had watched the sea battle from shore. In another memorable encounter, Haraden, in command of "General Pickering" took on three armed merchantmen off Nova Scotia and captured all of them without loss of life aboard his own vessel. In another engagement Haraden took on a heavily armed Royal Mail Packet headed for England from the West Indies. In a savage engagement both vessels were damaged. Haraden bore off to repair his ship, then renewed the chase, when he discovered he only had enough powder and ammunition for one cannon shot. He maneuvered "General Pickering" alongside the packet and gave the British captain five minutes to haul down his colors, or he threatened to sink her with a broadside. He began to shout off the minutes. The bluff worked and the British ship surrendered to the smaller American vessel. It would not be the last time Haraden bluffed an enemy into surrender, especially after his name had become feared throughout the British merchant fleet. It is estimated he captured more than 1,000 cannon for the American cause, as well as untold stocks of other weapons, powder and ammunition, numerous vessels and goods. The World War I era destroyer "USS Haraden" was named for him and, ironically, was conveyed to the British in a lend-lease deal during World War II. After the American Revolution, his health declined rapidly. He is held as an equivalent to the American Naval officer, John Paul Jones.